Hamas and Israel agree prisoner swap deal to free Gilad Shalit

Israel's cabinet have approved a deal with Hamas Islamists in Gaza to free
Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit in exchange for more than 1,000 Palestinian
prisoners.

10:08AM BST 12 Oct 2011

Ministers voted 26 to 3 in favour of the Egyptian-mediated deal for Gilad Shalit, a soldier held captive since June 2006, after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged them to ratify the lopsided swap that he called "the best deal we could achieve".

Hundreds of people turned out on Tuesday to celebrate, swamping the tent where Shalit's family and their supporters have kept a vigil to press Prime Minister Netanyahu to secure his freedom.

Corporal Gilad Shalit, a tank gunner was captured by militants who tunnelled their way out of Gaza and then forced him back over the border in a raid in 2006.

He was 19 at the time and had begun his mandatory three-year army service nearly a year previously.

The soldier, who also holds French citizenship, was last seen in a videotape released by his captors in September 2009.

He received no visits from the International Committee of the Red Cross, despite many appeals.

Many sympathisers, including foreign visitors and officials had visited the tent since the Shalits set it up in 2010 following a 12-day march from their home in northern Israel. They said they would stay there until Gilad came home.

The exchange of Shalit for the first 450 Palestinians to be released is expected some time in the coming days.

There are about 6,000 Palestinians prisoners in Israeli jails. They are regarded as heroes in what Palestinians call their struggle against Israeli occupation and quest for statehood.

The deal has proved controversial in Isreal where objectors warn of the possible danger to Israel's security as result of the release the of prisoners.